The Ruts (later known as Ruts DC) are an English reggae-influenced punk rock band, notable for the
1979 UK top 10 hit single "Babylon's Burning", and an earlier single "In a Rut", which was not a hit but was highly regarded and regularly played by BBC Radio 1 disc jockey John Peel. The band's newfound success was cut short by the death of lead singer Malcolm Owen from a heroin overdose in 1980. Despite this the band continued under a different musical style as Ruts D.C. until 1983 when they disbanded, the band later reformed in 2007.
With their unique blend of raucous punk rock laced with reggae and dub, the Ruts were one of the
most exciting bands to emerge from Britain's late-'70s scene. Their career was cut cruelly short by the death of their singer in 1980, but still the group released six crucial singles and a seminal album in their short lifetime, while the surviving members soldiered on as Ruts D.C.
They were also a powerful force within Britain's Rock Against Racism movement, ensuring a political legacy at least as vital as their music. On classic tunes like "Babylon's Burning" and "In a Rut," the
band delivered rough-and-ready punk rock as strong as any of their peers in the first wave of U.K. punk, but "Jah War" showed they were similarly expert with reggae rhythms and dubwise production, and "Staring at the Rude Boys" showed they could blend punk sounds and West Indian themes, honoring each side equally.
The Ruts' first single, "In a Rut" was finally released on People Unite in January 1979, having been recorded back on 24 April 1978 at the Free Range 8-track studios. It was backed up with anti-heroin
tirade "H-Eyes" on the B-side ("You're so young, you take smack for fun/It's gonna screw your head, you're gonna wind up dead"). DJ John Peel expressed his admiration for the group on air (as can be heard on a retrospective 1978 radio show clip on the In a Can album) and a session for the BBC swiftly followed the same month. DJ David Jensen also showcased the band in a further session recorded for the BBC in February 1979. A second Peel session was in May 1979.
Their debut album The Crack was produced by Mick Glossop and released in September 1979, reaching number 16 in the UK Albums Chart. The two singles "Babylon's Burning" and "Something
That I Said" were re-recorded for the album. Edited from the album, the band's third single for Virgin at the end of October 1979 was the roots reggae track "Jah War", about the Metropolitan Police's Special Patrol Group's violence in Southall disturbances in April 1979. However, the BBC refused to play it, labelling the song as "too political".
The Ruts were preparing to begin work on their second album, an American tour was also in the works, while their latest British outing was sold out long in advance. Life should have been good, but Owen's own was in tatters. His marriage had fallen apart and his longtime heroin habit now raged out of
control. The Ruts were forced to cancel a number of U.K. tour dates, and in desperation opted for a tough-love approach. They fired the singer, shortly after completing work on their proposed next single, "West One." This wake-up call seemed to work -- Owen cleaned up and met with his bandmates to discuss a reconciliation. The meeting was a success, but Owen's own resolve was weaker. On the weekend of July 11, 1980, Owen returned home, got high, and suffered a fatal overdose.
THE RUTS - THE VIRGIN YEARS (BOX 2015)
The Ruts – The Virgin Years
Label: Caroline Records – CAROLR012CD
Series: The Virgin Years
Format: Box Set, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered
Country: Europe
Released: Oct 23, 2015
Genre: Rock
Style: Punk
Label: Caroline Records – CAROLR012CD
Series: The Virgin Years
Format: Box Set, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered
Country: Europe
Released: Oct 23, 2015
Genre: Rock
Style: Punk
DISC 1. THE CRACK
01. Babylon's Burning 2:35
02. Dope For Guns 2:11
03. S.U.S. 3:50
04. Something That I Said 3:54
05. You're Just A 2:56
06. It Was Cold 6:49
07. Savage Circle 3:05
08. Jah War 6:54
09. Criminal Mind 1:34
10. Back Biter 3:02
11. Out Of Order 1:51
12. Human Punk 4:36
BONUS TRAXS
13. Babylon's Burning (7" Version) 2:33
14. Society 1:56
15. Something That I Said (7" Version) 3:06
16. Give Youth A Chance 3:12
17. Jah War (7" Version) 3:37
18. I Ain't Sofisticated 2:19
MP3 @ 320 Size: 153 MB
Flac Size: 558 MB
DISC 2. GRIN & BEAR IT
01. West One (Shine On Me) 5:41
02. Staring At The Rude Boys 3:15
03. Demolition Dancing 2:35
04. Secret Soldiers 2:18
05. H-Eyes 2:49
06. In A Rut 3:41
07. Love In Vain 4:11
08. S.U.S. (Live) 3:39
09. Babylon's Burning (Live) 2:38
10. Society (Live) 2:03
BONUS TRAXS
11. West One (Shine On Me) (7" Version) 2:56
12. The Crack 5:48
KID JENSEN SESSION (FEBRUARY 1979)
13. In A Rut 3:01
14. Babylon's Burning 2:34
15. Something That I Said 3:58
MP3 @ 320 Size: 132 MB
Flac Size: 240 MB
DISC 3. AT THE BBC
JOHN PEEL SESSION (JANUARY 1979)
01. Savage Circle 2:58
02. Babylon's Burning 2:32
03. Dope For Guns 2:28
04. Black Man's Pinch 3:09
05. Criminal Mind 1:37
JOHN PEEL SESSION (MAY 1979)
06. S.U.S. 3:17
07. Society 1:53
08. You're Just A 2:47
09. It Was Cold 5:13
10. Something That I Said 3:18
JOHN PEEL SESSION (FEBRUARY 1980)
11. Staring At The Rude Boys 3:22
12. Demolition Dancing 2:37
13. In A Rut 3:14
14. Secret Soldiers 2:19
BBC IN CONCERT (JULY 1979)
15. You're Just A 3:02
16. It Was Cold 4:29
17. I Ain't Sofisticated 2:18
18. Dope For Guns 2:23
19. S.U.S. 3:32
20. Babylon's Burning 2:35
21. Jah War 3:11
22. Criminal Mind 1:56
23. In A Rut 4:16
MP3 @ 320 Size: 175 MB
Flac Size: 489 MB
DISC 4. LIVE AT THE MARQUEE (JULY 1979)
02. H-Eyes 2:40
03. Gotta Little Number 3:06
04. I Ain't Sofisticated 3:01
05. S.U.S. 3:39
06. Criminal Mind 2:05
07. Dope For Guns 2:53
08. Babylon's Burning 2:54
09. Backbiter 3:14
10. Jah War 3:19
11. You're Just A 2:57
12. It Was Cold 5:30
13. Out Of Order 2:43
14. In A Rut 6:54
15. Human Punk 5:47
16. Savage Circle 3:15
17. Babylon's Burning (Encore) 2:37
%20Front%20Cover.jpg)
03. Gotta Little Number 3:06
04. I Ain't Sofisticated 3:01
05. S.U.S. 3:39
06. Criminal Mind 2:05
07. Dope For Guns 2:53
08. Babylon's Burning 2:54
09. Backbiter 3:14
10. Jah War 3:19
11. You're Just A 2:57
12. It Was Cold 5:30
13. Out Of Order 2:43
14. In A Rut 6:54
15. Human Punk 5:47
16. Savage Circle 3:15
17. Babylon's Burning (Encore) 2:37
MP3 @ 320 Size: 156 MB
Flac Size: 392 MB
THE RUTS - THE CRACK (EXPANDED VERSION) 2019
%20Front%20Cover.jpg)
The Ruts – The Crack [Expanded]
Label: Caroline International – CAROLR105CD
Format: 3 x CD, Album, Reissue, Expanded, Box Set
Country: Europe
Released: Aug 16, 2019
Genre: Rock
Style: Punk
Label: Caroline International – CAROLR105CD
Format: 3 x CD, Album, Reissue, Expanded, Box Set
Country: Europe
Released: Aug 16, 2019
Genre: Rock
Style: Punk
%20Back%20Cover.jpg)
DISC 1. THE CRACK
%20-%20The%20Crack%20-%20Back%20Cover.jpg)
02. Dope For Guns
03. S.U.S.
04. Something That I Said
05. You're Just A...
06. It Was Cold
07. Savage Circle
08. Jah War
09. Criminal Mind
10. Backbiter
11. Out Of Order
12. Human Punk
MP3 @ 320 Size: 103 MB
Flac Size: 314 MB
DISC 2. SINGLES & RARITIES
%20Singles%20&%20Rarities%20Front%20Cover.jpg)
01. In A Rut
02. H-Eyes
03. Babylon's Burning (7" Version)
04. Society
05. Something That I Said (7" Version)
06. Give Youth A Chance
07. Jah War (7" Version)
08. I Ain't Sofisticated
ROUGH MIXES
%20Singles%20&%20Rarities%20Back%20Cover.jpg)
09. You're Just A...
10. Criminal Mind
11. Savage Circle
12. Backbiter
13. Out Of Order
14. I Ain't Sofisticated
15. It Was Cold
16. S.U.S.
17. Jah Wars
18. Something That I Said
19. Dope For Guns
MP3 @ 320 Size: 137 MB
Flac Size: 418 MB
DISC 3. LIVE IN THE NETHERLANDS 1980
%20Live%20In%20The%20Netherlands%20-%20Front%20Cover.jpg)
01. Savage Circle
02. Something That I Said
03. I Ain't Sofisticated
04. S.U.S.
05. Demolition Dancing
06. Backbiter
07. Out Of Order
08. Jah War
09. Criminal Mind
10. Babylon's Burning
11. Dope For Guns
12. Staring At The Rude Boys
13. H-Eyes
14. In A Rut
15. You're Just A...
16. It Was Cold
17. Society
18. Love Song
19. Human Punk
I don't know the band. It would be a hit if i liked them. As many cds to get hold of. Only reggae influenced ? I usually hate reggae. So Kostas how does it look like- a lot of reggae ? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI love reggae, especially in the summer.
DeleteI heard Peel Session 1979. Little reggae, definitely punk. Both boxes are very cheap. THANKS !!
ReplyDeleteWow! So looking forward to hearing these guys again. Great memories of my high school days. Thanks mate.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for the large post about the Ruts. The Crack is a wonderful record. Badly, on the record 3 of the expanded version, live on the Netherlands, the N°14 (In a Rut) lackes. Please, could share it if you have it ? Thanks in advance.
ReplyDeleteMy MP3 Producer Program can't recognise the track no 13. It you want it you can download it in Flac. Okay?
DeleteThanks for your answer. I download it. I should have thought of it myself. Sorry for the inconvenience and thank you very much again
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for your comment. Keep on Rocking.
DeleteI just read this elsewhere. Sorry you live in a country like this, Kostas. "Ahmed Farouq, who lives on the outskirts of the city of Gujranwala, lost his son in the Pylos shipwreck. Talking of the alleged towing, he saids: “They wanted it to sink. Why didn’t they save the people first? If they don’t want illegal migrants, let them deport us, but don’t let us drown.”"
ReplyDeleteAhmed Farouq is very wrong. The immigrants denied the Greek help.
DeleteAhmed Farouq is very wrong. The immigrants denied the Greek help.
DeleteWell, the investigation is still on going here as to who is to blame. But that is not the important thing.
DeleteLET'S BE HONEST. The majority of the population is even probably happy that the people are drowned with all the politicans who practice a culture of being affected, as in so many things, but that's pure hypercrisy. I too can have a little sympathy for it. Everything is far away, i don't know any of the drowned people, everythong is to abstract. And most people probably think we already have far too many of those people. That saves money, work etcetera...
Instead the media ( and the general public) are more concerned when a few billionaires perish on the Titanic. Here you tremble and follow the latest developments every how. That's how it is.
Ahmed Farouq lost his son because his son believed the lies that such a trip is nothing to fear about. When you board an overloaded ship that doesn't obey any safety rules and just goes into the sea, it's a matter of time till some ship sinks. Especially when the captain doesn't have any intention to cooperate with the authorities due to the illegal nature of his activities.
DeleteThis is a journey without return in a death sea, but Europe is completely blind and nobody cares. We only care about how many weapons, how many bombs, how many deadly aeroplanes we buy and nothing else.
DeleteThanks Kostas much appreciated
ReplyDeleteThanks Kostas great blog, but bonus of CD2 are missing
ReplyDeleteFred
CD2 of the Box or the Crack?
DeleteCD2 of the box in (flac)
DeleteI checked it now. You're wright. My EAC program doesn't read and recognise the last 5 tracks of the CD2. I don't know why. My MP3 Producer Program can convert them in MP3. I don't know what to say. It's the second time that happens in all these years.
DeleteI checked it now. You're wright. My EAC program doesn't read and recognise the last 5 tracks of the CD2. I don't know why. My MP3 Producer Program can convert them in MP3. I don't know what to say. It's the second time that happens in all these years.
Deletethanks for answering me Kostas. Never mind, it will be for another time.
ReplyDeleteFred
Thank you very much. I am not familiar with The Ruts but everything I've read makes me believe they'll appeal to me. This should be more than enough to find out...thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat blog, some fantastic treats here, thank you so much, keep on rocking...
ReplyDeleteFor those concerned, the last 5 tracks missing from cd2 in the box set RUTS - THE VIRGIN YEARS, can be found in cd1. How they got in there is anyone's guess.
Thanks again Kostas...